Russia launched a drone strike on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv early on Wednesday, killing one person, injuring six others, and damaging buildings in two districts, according to city officials.
Explosions boomed across the morning sky as Ukraine’s air force warned of drones approaching the capital and Mayor Vitali Klitschko said air defences were repelling an enemy attack.
Two floors of a residential building were partially destroyed in the strike, Klitschko said. The body of a woman was later pulled from the debris, the city’s military administration said.
Drones Shot Down
Photos posted by the State Emergency Service showed firefighters dousing a gutted corner of a building and rescuers helping elderly victims.
The National Bank of Ukraine said in a statement that one of its buildings had been damaged by debris from a downed drone. Debris also damaged a non-residential building in a different neighbourhood, Klitschko added.
“Even on New Year’s Eve, Russia was only concerned about how to hurt Ukraine,” President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on social media in response to the strike.
Kyiv’s military said it had shot down 63 out of 111 drones launched by Russia overnight across various regions of Ukraine. Another 46 had been downed by electronic jamming, it added.
Russia has carried out regular air strikes on Ukrainian towns and cities far behind the front line of its nearly three-year-old invasion.
Russia’s 2024 Drone Strikes
Russia’s drone attacks on Ukraine have intensified in 2024, targeting key cities, infrastructure, and civilian areas.
Early in the year, Kyiv was struck, resulting in casualties and significant damage.
These attacks primarily involve Shahed drones, which Russia has used extensively to disrupt Ukrainian defences and morale.
Ukrainian officials report mounting civilian casualties and the destruction of vital infrastructure, including residential buildings and power grids.
In response, Ukraine has ramped up air defence systems and called for increased international support.
The regular drone strikes highlight the ongoing brutality of Russia’s war on Ukraine, with no sign of de-escalation in sight.
(With inputs from Reuters)
